Global Sociology

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of a range of key sociological theories and concepts relevant to the analysis of global social change and inequalities
• demonstrate an ability to use theories and concepts to understand specific empirical examples
• use national and/or local examples or comparisons to explain and assess the utility of the theories and concepts considered on the module
• display subject-specific and transferable skills relevant to a range of associated careers in the public or private sector
• show knowledge of the conflicts and complementarities between the perspectives considered
• evaluate the strengths, weaknesses and limitations of the approaches considered and their implications for how global social change is studied

1/ A global sociology? What is it? What does it involve?

This session will provide an overview of how social sciences have addressed key changes and challenges accompanying globalisation and how sociology has analysed these in comparison with other social sciences. We will pay particular attention to how the discipline has evolved beyond the Global North, particularly in response to decolonising perspectives, and causes and consequences of moving beyond a national orientation in Sociology.

2-3/ Where are we now and how did we get here? Modernisation, colonialism and global divisions

These two sessions will explore in detail how societies have evolved from pre-modern times through different stages of global integration to current processes of globalisation, deterritorialization and global mobilities. Engaging with historically-informed scholarships, we will explore the emergence of capitalism, the impact of colonial domination by European empires and the consequences of these processes for the societies in the North and South. Students will be invited to reflect on specific contexts and case studies with the assigned readings.

4-5/ Income/class inequalities – global perspectives.

Developments in social theory (classical to contemporary) related to global/international empirical examples

These two sessions will explore how Sociology has addressed social inequalities based on income, wealth and social class. We will pay particular attention to different notions of class and income inequality from classical to contemporary theories, the shifts in class identities, new forms of precarity, and global inequalities. Students will be invited to reflect on specific contexts and case studies with the assigned readings.

6-7/ Gender/sexuality inequalities – global perspectives

Developments in social theory (classical to contemporary) related to global/international empirical examples

These two sessions will look at gender and sexuality as key variables structuring inequalities from a global perspective. We will study how masculinities and femininities are being revisited in different contexts, the shifts in and beyond binary understandings of gender, and the emerging social movements for and by LGBTQ+ people in the Global North and South. We will invite students to think of power relations and the intersections of gender with other forms of inequality such as class, race and sexuality. Students will be invited to reflect on specific contexts and case studies with the assigned readings.

8-9/ Race/ethnicity – global perspectives

Developments in social theory (classical to contemporary) related to global/international empirical examples

These two sessions will invite students to think of race, racism and ethnicity in social theory and to critically engage with how Sociology has addressed this topic in relation to concepts such as nationalism, whiteness, colonialism and (racial) capitalism. We will engage with case studies that will illustrate the different understandings of race and ethnicity, and racial hierarchies across the globe and the importance of intersectionality as a key too to explore inequalities.

10/ Recap and assignment preparation- this session will offer an overview of the module with key wrap-up points and will provide detailed feedback on the final assessment.

Each session will be structured around student-led content. There will be a short presentation by the lecturer on the key debates, and the framing of the topic. Groups of students will be assigned readings. They will collaborate based on their topic response papers in summarising these readings in the sessions (see feedback and assessment methods below).

Guest speakers (internal or external) will be invited on specific topics for some of the two-session topics. This will include, where possible, professionals working in an allied field of employment. Alumni will be investigated as source of speakers for such sessions

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.